Fire Safety Background Information for Teachers and Parents
Most schools have fire drills to help prepare children in case of an emergency. Review safety procedures with children and help prepare them for emergency situations. Instill good safety practices and help them understand that safety is everyone’s responsibility. This movie will explore fire safety and explain what happens during school fire drills and how to stay safe during a fire. It will also review ways to prevent fires.
Remind children that a fire drill is an exercise where people practice what do to in case there is a fire. Like any exercise, fire drills take practice. Review what happens during a fire drill at school. When a fire alarm goes off, children should stop what they are doing and immediately line up at the door. They should not finish what they are doing or stop to do anything else. They should move quickly, but they should not run. What might happen if they ran and tripped? Have children explain. Remind children to be quiet and listen for directions. If too many people talk or are noisy, others might miss important directions from the teacher.
Review with children how to walk in a line as they exit the classroom and the building. They should notice who is in front of them and try to stick behind that person. They should also pay attention to their surroundings and make sure they do not get separated from the group. If they do, they should immediately go outside and ask a teacher to help find their class. They should not go back to the classroom. Once they are outside, children should stay with their class. Explain that a teacher has to make sure everyone is there and safe, and let everyone know when it is safe to go back to class. Once again, children should walk quietly in a line and listen for directions. Remind everyone that fire drills should be taken seriously because they help us prepare for emergencies.
Many families have an emergency plan to help them stay safe during a fire or other emergency. An emergency plan might explain all the safe ways to exit a home or building. It might point out fire escapes or windows that can be used to evacuate. Children should know where fire extinguishers are kept, and understand how smoke detectors work and where they are located. Remind children that a smoke detector is a small alarm that goes off when it senses smoke. Many families pick safe spots to meet in case people get separated. In addition, families should have emergency contacts who can help them. Remind children that during an emergency they should call 911. It is important to review that 911 is for emergencies only. When 911 is contacted, police officers, fire fighters, and ambulances are dispatched.
Explain that fires do not happen often, but everyone should know how to stay safe during a fire. Remind children that if they are with an adult when a fire alarm goes off, they should listen to directions carefully. When leaving the building, they should go right away and not stop for belongings.
If children smell smoke but don’t see it, they should touch the door and the doorknob lightly using their fingertips and not their palms, since a burned palm can impede escaping through windows or down ladders. If the door is hot or very warm, they should not open the door. If the door is cool, they should open it a little and watch and smell for smoke. They can exit through the door if the hallway appears clear, being careful to close the door behind them to slow down the spread of a fire. If children see smoke coming out from under a door, they should not open it. They can find another exit, or put blankets or clothes around the door so that smoke does not seep in. If they are in a smoky place, they should stay low to the ground. Smoke and heat rises in the air, so it’s best to crawl and stay close to the floor. Children should cover their noses and mouths to breathe less smoke. In the case that their clothes catch on fire, they should not run, which can add to the flames. They should stop, drop, and roll to put it out. It is important for children to understand that they should not hide during a fire. Firefighters and adults need to find them to make sure that they are safe.
The most important part of fire safety is to prevent fires from happening in the first place. Review rules with children. They should never play with matches, lighters, fireworks, or lit cigarettes, and never bring them to school. They should keep toys, clothes, and other things away from heaters so they don’t catch fire. Also, they should take care around sockets and never stick things in them that do not belong. They should remind their parents to test smoke detectors monthly and replace batteries annually; to check electrical wires for damage and make sure that wires do not run under carpets. Encourage the use of flame retardant sleepwear. Additionally, children should never play with a stove or oven and they should only cook when there is adult supervision. Remind children to never pull or play with a fire alarm. It’s for emergencies only.
Fires can be scary but they can be prevented. Preparing children for emergency situations can help allay some fears and anxieties, and empower them with the knowledge and skills they need to react safely.
Extension Activities:
Remind children that a fire drill is an exercise where people practice what do to in case there is a fire. Like any exercise, fire drills take practice. Review what happens during a fire drill at school. When a fire alarm goes off, children should stop what they are doing and immediately line up at the door. They should not finish what they are doing or stop to do anything else. They should move quickly, but they should not run. What might happen if they ran and tripped? Have children explain. Remind children to be quiet and listen for directions. If too many people talk or are noisy, others might miss important directions from the teacher.
Review with children how to walk in a line as they exit the classroom and the building. They should notice who is in front of them and try to stick behind that person. They should also pay attention to their surroundings and make sure they do not get separated from the group. If they do, they should immediately go outside and ask a teacher to help find their class. They should not go back to the classroom. Once they are outside, children should stay with their class. Explain that a teacher has to make sure everyone is there and safe, and let everyone know when it is safe to go back to class. Once again, children should walk quietly in a line and listen for directions. Remind everyone that fire drills should be taken seriously because they help us prepare for emergencies.
Many families have an emergency plan to help them stay safe during a fire or other emergency. An emergency plan might explain all the safe ways to exit a home or building. It might point out fire escapes or windows that can be used to evacuate. Children should know where fire extinguishers are kept, and understand how smoke detectors work and where they are located. Remind children that a smoke detector is a small alarm that goes off when it senses smoke. Many families pick safe spots to meet in case people get separated. In addition, families should have emergency contacts who can help them. Remind children that during an emergency they should call 911. It is important to review that 911 is for emergencies only. When 911 is contacted, police officers, fire fighters, and ambulances are dispatched.
Explain that fires do not happen often, but everyone should know how to stay safe during a fire. Remind children that if they are with an adult when a fire alarm goes off, they should listen to directions carefully. When leaving the building, they should go right away and not stop for belongings.
If children smell smoke but don't see it, they should touch the door and the doorknob lightly using their fingertips and not their palms, since a burned palm can impede escaping through windows or down ladders. If the door is hot or very warm, they should not open the door. If the door is cool, they should open it a little and watch and smell for smoke. They can exit through the door if the hallway appears clear, being careful to close the door behind them to slow down the spread of a fire. If children see smoke coming out from under a door, they should not open it. They can find another exit, or put blankets or clothes around the door so that smoke does not seep in. If they are in a smoky place, they should stay low to the ground. Smoke and heat rises in the air, so it’s best to crawl and stay close to the floor. Children should cover their noses and mouths to breathe less smoke. In the case that their clothes catch on fire, they should not run, which can add to the flames. They should stop, drop, and roll to put it out. It is important for children to understand that they should not hide during a fire. Firefighters and adults need to find them to make sure that they are safe.
The most important part of fire safety is to prevent fires from happening in the first place. Review rules with children. They should never play with matches, lighters, fireworks, or lit cigarettes, and never bring them to school. They should keep toys, clothes, and other things away from heaters so they don't catch fire. Also, they should take care around sockets and never stick things in them that do not belong. They should remind their parents to test smoke detectors monthly and replace batteries annually; to check electrical wires for damage and make sure that wires do not run under carpets. Encourage the use of flame retardant sleepwear. Additionally, children should never play with a stove or oven and they should only cook when there is adult supervision. Remind children to never pull or play with a fire alarm. It's for emergencies only.
Fires can be scary but they can be prevented. Preparing children for emergency situations can help allay some fears and anxieties, and empower them with the knowledge and skills they need to react safely.
